Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On the sidelines of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit in the city of Khankendi, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting with the Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of Afghanistan, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

The talks focused on further strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation in key areas such as trade, economy, transport and logistics, and energy.

The sides expressed satisfaction with the progressive development of bilateral relations, particularly the growth in trade turnover and the increase in the number of joint ventures. Business contacts have notably intensified: in May this year, Uzbek trading houses were opened in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, and in June, the two countries signed a Preferential Trade Agreement.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of expanding cross-border trade and modernizing the relevant infrastructure, as well as advancing joint cooperation projects in the mining, textile, and pharmaceutical industries, construction materials production, and agro-processing.

Special attention was given to the need for the accelerated implementation of the strategically important regional project — the construction of the Trans-Afghan Railway, which is expected to become a crucial link connecting Central and South Asia.